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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Weight Watchers goal weight

As you probably know, yesterday's Powerball was big news--$500 million. Jerry and I play the lotto only once every three years or so, when the jackpot is super high like that. We know nothing about the lottery, but when everyone talks about it, we might spend $5 on tickets.

So a few days ago, I happened to have $10 cash in my wallet (I very rarely have cash), so I told Jerry to go ahead and buy $10 worth of tickets, just for the fun of it. He bought the ticket and then last night, we were looking at it for the drawing when he realized that he'd bought the wrong one!

He bought the Mega Millions ticket instead of the Powerball.

We're lucky that our numbers weren't pulled on the Powerball, because that would have been the ultimate disappointment! Not that we expected to win, but it was nice to think we at least had a shot... until we realized Jerry's mistake ;)

This morning, I had four miles at race pace on the schedule. Technically my race pace for Ragnar is 9:00/mi, but when my schedule says "race pace", I just try to run anything sub-9:00. Unlike yesterday, I really didn't feel like running today. It's always hard to get motivated to run after a day off!

I put on the Jillian Michaels' podcast and listened to that while I ran. I love doing out-and-back routes, because they seem to go buy so much faster. Once I get to the turnaround, it's just a straight shot home. I finished with a pretty good time!

Tomorrow is my long run--nine miles.

After my run, I showered, ate breakfast, and got ready to go to my Weight Watchers meeting. Last week, I drank a ton of water and wore heavy clothes before the meeting. This morning, I didn't have a lot of time to worry about that, so I just dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, drank one quart of water, and two cups of tea.

I knew that the Weight Watchers scale would register a large loss, but I really didn't care, since I'd already done my initial weigh in. Last week, I went to the Wednesday night meeting, since Thanksgiving was on Thursday; so it was a different leader. Today, I met the leader that I'd spoken with on the phone. She weighed me in and I was down 6.4 pounds from last week (yikes). Which means I reached my WW goal weight.

To reach goal on WW, you have to have lost at least 5 pounds from your starting weight, and your goal has to be within the healthy BMI range (for me, that's between 117-144). I chose 143 for my WW goal weight, because I weigh in with clothes on, and after breakfast and all that. I wanted to have a little "cushion" in case I gain a few pounds. So today, I was 141.6, and "officially" reached goal.

My leader asked if I wanted her to present me with the sticker at the meeting, and I said no, thank you. Despite the fact that I am a blogger, and write all about myself, I really don't like getting attention. So she handed me a pamphlet on maintenance, and the sticker, and a little WW charm for reaching goal:

I was being silly when Jerry took this pic--like, "I've been on and off WW for the last almost-20 years, and I FINALLY reached goal, and look what I got!!" It's such a dumb thing to get excited about, but I worked a loooong time and very hard to get that little star!

I put it on the WW 10% key chain my sister gave me. When I was losing weight, I was still counting WW Points, but wasn't a member. I had lost 10% of my weight, and my sister wrapped up her 10% key chain that SHE had gotten from WW and gave it to me. I thought that was really awesome of her! She said I should get something for all the work I was doing...

So the key chain is old and worn, and I love it like that--because both of us worked really hard for it!

Now, the next step is to become a "Lifetime" member. To reach that status, I have to maintain my weight loss for six weeks (losing more is okay). After the six week period, if I'm at or below goal, I will be a Lifetime member, and won't have to pay for meetings (or e-tools, a way to log PointsPlus online) as long as I continue to weigh in once a month at or below goal.

I really should have thought this through before reaching goal today, because you know when my six-week period ends? The day after I get home from Key West. This could either go really well, or really badly. It can definitely help to keep me on track in Florida, but I don't want to be afraid of letting loose and having as much fun as possible down there.

We all know how much weight I can gain in a few days on vacation... it's not unusual for me to gain 10 pounds in a weekend! I think I'll be fine as far as the food goes, but it's the alcohol that I'm worried about. Jerry and I will be on vacation in Key West without kids, in a beautiful hotel on the beach... and I plan on having some drinks. Too many drinks! But I'm certainly not 21 anymore, so maybe I'll only last a day before I never want to see alcohol again ;)

Regardless, I'm not going to worry much about it. If it means that I have to maintain my weight for another six weeks when I get home, so be it! But I was a little worried about going super-overboard while on vacation, so maybe this whole WW thing will keep me in check. I don't mind gaining a couple of pounds over the week, but I certainly don't want to gain 10.

Anyway, the meeting was okay. The ladies in there were VERY friendly, and I didn't feel judged in the slightest. They asked if I was new, and I said yes; they all introduced themselves, which was nice. I didn't tell anyone that I'd lost a lot of weight or anything, so they probably assumed I was just looking to lose a few pounds. It was hard NOT to talk about that, because all the other ladies were talking about how much they'd lost--but I kind of felt like if I said anything, I would be stealing the show, and I didn't want to do that.

The hardest part was when someone brought up The Dr. Oz Show. Of course none of them knew that I had been a guest on the show, and I almost mentioned it, but didn't want to get totally off the topic of what the leader was trying to talk about (which wasn't The Dr. Oz Show!). So again, I just kept quiet the whole time. And it was actually really nice, to not have to talk about my weight loss, and just hear about the success of others.

I liked the leader of the Wednesday night meeting better, but I have to pick a daytime meeting while my kids are in school. So I'm not sure what I'll do next week--if I'll stay in the Thursday morning meeting, or switch to one with a different leader. Maybe I'll go to a few different meetings (once you pay, you can go to as many meetings as you want that week) and try out a few different leaders before finding one to stick with. But since joining, I haven't had any negative experiences this time around, so I am happy about that!

34 comments:

I would definitely try a few meeting leaders. For me, that has always been key. In my current town, really only one meeting time works for me, and I don't really love the leader (I don't dislike her either though) so I'm sticking with it for now. After 3 years, I really want to hit lifetime!

Congrats on reaching your goal weight! You're a rock star, girl! You'll hit lifetime no problem. (I thought I was the only one who could gain 10 lbs in a weekend on vacay! We're going to Chicago NYE...Sprinkles and Eggsperience are on my "hit list!")

Just a caution - at the end of maintenance you have to be within 2 lbs of your goal and the first time you weigh in each calendar month as well to stay free (i.e 1st weekend of December within goal and then again 1st week of January but up in between is ok. If you weight in say the third week of December for the first time that month, you still have to be within 2 lbs in the first January weigh in.) I was all confused about this when I first hit lifetime, so thought I would pass on! Congratulations!!!!

I hope that doesn't make anyone crash diet just to be able to stay lifetime! 2 pounds seems like such a tiny window because that could be the difference of a bottle of water before the meeting or wearing different pants, or just being "that time of the month."

What happens if you're over the 2lb? Do you have to restart maintenance, or just pay for that week and just get back to goal for the next month?

Two pounds really isn't much to work with! That's why I picked a WW goal that was higher than my "actual" goal at home. I don't want to have to drop a quick couple of pounds just to "make weight" at the meeting.

Congratulations!! I became a lifetime member wayyy back in the dark ages, way before points. Your little key chain and star are so cute! The key chain I got way back then is a huge key, way too big, gaudy and heavy to actually use. As a lifetime member, even if you are over goal, you can get all the materials for any new programs they come out with just by going to a meeting. You would be a great leader!

Lorenda, as I was reading this I was thinking the same exact thing as you-that Katie would make a GREAT leader!! As a WW member myself, I know how important meetings are and with Katie's experience, she'd be so great!

I think I would be a terrible leader! I'm way too shy, and the thought of speaking in a room of people (even if there aren't a ton of people there) scares me half to death. So I'll just be a silent member for now ;) But thanks for your confidence in me!

Thanks for that info Lorenda. I also became a lm back in the dark ages. My big, gaudy key is still in its black plastic clip case, in pristine shape! I have gone back to meetings off and on over the years, but not recently. Didn't know I could get all the new materials! Thanks for the tip!

Sylvia, I should add that if you are over your goal weight, you will have to pay the current weekly meeting fee. I was over by 8 lbs so I had to pay 14.00. I don't know if it is the same everywhere. During the time I was going weekly the fee went from 4 to 5 dollars and I was glad that I only had a few more weeks to pay this new expensive fee!!! LOL!! Oh, and I believe that my key is also in the black plastic case!! how funny!

haha! on the Jerry buying Mega Millions ticket. I almost bought a fake ticket with last night numbers to give to my hubby tonight at dinner. Pretty sure he wouldn't have believed it for one second though.

Congrats on the making goal weight! It is funny how we can share so much online some times but not in front of the actual person that would be the one reading it at home. I have no problem sharing my goals and feelings online but am much more reserved in real life situations.

Hey girl :) Thanks for visiting recently and thinking of me when sandy hit :) We are all okay, although it has been tough in NJ and NY for awhile.

Anyway, glad to stop in and see you are doing so well. I check on you from time to time!

I'm thinking of starting a blog. I wrote one entry but haven't made it public yet. Maybe I will email you the link privately. Or it might be the link when I respond to this because I started it on blogger? I'm not sure. anyway, if you have any tips or advice you'd like to share, I'm still wary about making it public... even though that would probably be the best thing for me.

Hey there! Good to hear from you :) I just read your post on your blog (you're right, it did link) and I have to say, I LOVE the title! I despise yogurt of all types, but especially Greek yogurt. So funny!

Congrats on hitting your WW goal! That's amazing, and a very pretty star! I have told hubby I want to start one of those Pandora charm bracelets. When we were in NYC, we passed a store that said they had the newest charm "The Statue Of Liberty." I told hubby I HAD to have THAT charm to commemorate my time on the Today Show, for my as of yet non-existent charm bracelet. And I don't expect anything for Christmas. We both agreed that we wouldn't exchange presents, because our trip was our present.

I know what you mean about just keeping quiet in a group. I walked into the monthly Birthday Coffee last week at work. None of the birthday people were there so the Department Head recognized me for being on the show and "my accomplishment," and everybody gave me a hand. Then the talk was all about my trip, the show, my weight loss, until one loud-mouthed woman took over the conversation. I let her run with it. I couldn't compete with her if I tried, and like you say, I'm not all that comfortable in the spotlight. But it is fun sometimes.

You are fab! Congrats on getting to your goal weight. Awesome awesome :D

I started off with a Thurs pm meeting at WW, but then changed to Wed 10am because it fit in with uni better. I love being able to go to whatever meeting works for me - such a plus. I remember being so nervous the first few meetings, now it just feels old hat lol I've been a member since Feb, hopefully will get to goal by Feb 2013 then I want to be a LT member too :)

I'd love to hear from you! I read all of my comments, and if you have a question, I do my best to respond; sometimes, however, I get busy and forget to go back to reply, so if it's important, just email me! :)

Welcome!

Disclaimer

I am not a doctor or dietician, or any sort of medical professional. Everything I've written on my blog is from my own personal experience and should not be used as medical advice. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet or exercise routine.

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